Toy catapult

ABSTRACT

A toy catapult comprising a supporting structure upon which slides a pair of parallel side members. The side members are moved by a pair of pivoted brackets which are both interlocked with each side member. A crossbar attached between the side members engages a cam on the underside of a sling component. When the brackets are pivoted forward, the side members and crossbar are slid forward causing the crossbar to engage the cam near the pivot to the sling component which in turn causes the sling component to be flipped forward in a vertical arc.

[ 1 Feb. 1,1972

O United States f atent Clark [54] TOY CATAPULT [72] Inventor: Alvena F. Clark, Saskatoon,

Saskatchewan, Canada [73] Assignee: Catapult Toy Co., Ltd., Saskatoon,

Saskatchewan, Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 14,958

[52] 11.8. C1 ..124/4, 74/96, 74/107, 197/27, 197/29 [51] Int. Cl ..F41b 3/02 [58] Field of Search ..124/4, 6, 17, 36; 273/26 R, 273/95 R, 129 R; 74/96, 102, 104, 107; 197/27, 28, 29, 34

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,818 6/1937 Atwell ..124/4 2,562,237 7/1951 Julliard ..74/96 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Attorney-Kent & Ade

[5 7] ABSTRACT A toy catapult comprising a supporting structure upon which slides a pair of parallel side members. The side members are moved by a pair of pivoted brackets which are both interlocked with each side member. A crossbar attached between the side members engages a cam on the underside of a sling component. When the brackets are pivoted forward, the side members and crossbar are slid forward causing the crossbar to engage the cam near the pivot to the sling component which in turn causes the sling component to be flipped forward in a vertical arc.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 1 BR- 353 sum 1 OF 2 I N VEN TOR.

fiu/enm f. 44114 BY TOY CATAPULT This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy catapults or slings.

It is well known that children enjoy playing with toys that will project missiles of one form or the other. It is also well known that many of these toys are spring operated or operated by compressed air or elastic bands thereby imparting considerable force to the missile with the danger always being present of damage occurring either to other children or to fragile ornaments or the like.

The present device overcomes all of these disadvantages by providing a toy catapult or sling which may be actuated by the child to project a missile which although capable of travelling a fair distance, nevertheless does not have the force normally imparted thereto by springs or the like.

The principal object and essence of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the child can move an actuator forwardly thus flipping a sling component through a vertical arc so that a missile resting in one end of the sling is projected forwardly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which enables the child to obtain considerable accuracy with the device which is easily positioned upon the floor or a table as desired.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of, and is hereby claimed to reside in, the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specific embodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device shown with the sling component in the vertical position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device with the sling in the horizontal position.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of FIG. 2 but showing an alternative base construction.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of one side of the actuator.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of one side of part of the supporting structure.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the rear bracket per se.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the front bracket per se.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the sling component per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to described the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates generally the supporting structure which may take the form of 'a pair of spaced and parallel side pieces 11 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and maintained in spaced-apart relationship by crossmembers 12. Alternatively the base may be of a substantially rectangular block formation as indicated by reference character 13 in FIG. 2.

An actuator collectively designated 14 is adapted to slide on the supporting structure in a longitudinal manner and the actuator includes a pair of spaced and parallel side plates or members 15 which may terminate at the front end 16 thereof by a decorative device such as a rams head 17 or other similar decorative feature.

If the supporting structure consists of the spaced and parallel side plates 11, projections 18 ate preferably bent outwardly from the upper edge 19 thereof upon which the side members 15 of the actuator 14 may ride for the aforementioned reciprocal longitudinal movement as will hereinafter become apparent.

If, however, the relatively solid base 13 is utilized, then a pair of spaced and parallel slots or grooves 20 are formed in the upper surface 21 of the base 13 and the side members 15 may slide in these grooves.

In either embodiment, a front bracket 22 and a rear bracket 23 are provided to mount the actuator to the supporting structure for the aforementioned reciprocal movement. The front bracket 22 is substantially rectangular when viewed in front elevation and is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel substantially vertically situated, closed ended slots 24 extending through the bracket as shown in the drawings.

Small slots or notches 25 are formed adjacent each end of the side members 15 of the actuator and these side members are engaged through the slots of the front bracket 22 so that the upper wall portions 26 of the slots engage the slots or notches 25 thus preventing the side members from becoming displaced from the front bracket 22.

The plates 11 of the supporting structure shown in FIG. 3 are also provided with slots or notches 25A extending upwardly from the lower edge 27 and these side plates are also engaged through the slots 24 of the front bracket but below the side members 15 with the lower wall 28 of the slots engaging these notches 25A. When assembled in this manner, the lower edges 29 of the side members 15 are supported upon the out turned portions 18 of the side plates and may reciprocate thereon with the front bracket moving in an arc shown by reference character 30 in FIG. 1.

The rear bracket 22A is similarly constructed and has been given a similar reference character where applicable. This rear bracket also engages notches 25A and 25 in the plates 11 and side members 15 respectively as clearly illustrated. This rear bracket also moves in an arc identified by reference character 30 in FIG. 1. Handle portions 31 extend outwardly from each side of the rear bracket 22A to enable the rear bracket to be moved forwardly and rearwardly so that the actuator 14 reciprocates upon the supporting structure as shown.

A centrally located cutout portion 32 is formed in upper edge 33 of the rear bracket, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

A catapult or sling component collectively designated 34 includes a scoop or cradle 35 upon one end of a stem 36. The other end 37 of the stem is provided with pivot pins or rivets 38 which pivots the sling component between plates 11 of the supporting structure. In the event that the solid base 13 is used, small lugs 39 extend upwardly from the upper surface 21 of the base. The end 37 of the sling component depends downwardly in the form of a cam 38 as clearly shown in FIG. 8 with the pivot pin extending through an aperture 39 formed on the lowermost portion 40 thereof.

The cam 38 is provided with a rounded surface 41 and a crossbar 42 extends between the members 15 of the actuator towards one end 43 thereof. This crossbar rests against the cam surface 41 when the sling component is in the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 under which circumstances the portion 44 of the stern rests within the cutout portion 32 of the rear bracket hereinbefore described.

In operation, a projectile 45 is placed within the scoop 35 of the sling component, it being understood that the brackets are in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 with the actuating component in the rearward position relative to the supporting structure. The fingers of the operator engage the handles 31 and flip the rear bracket forwardly to the position shown in full line in FIG. 1 thus causing the crossbar 42 to engage the curved surface 41 of the sling component thus flipping the sling component through a vertical arc to the position shown in FIG. I and ejecting the projectile 45 substantially parallel to the horizontal.

The rear bracket 23 is then moved rearwardly to the original position and the catapult component moved back to the missile-receiving position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What I claim as my invention is;

l. A toy catapult comprising in combination a supporting structure, an actuator slideably engaged upon said supporting structure for reciprocal longitudinal movement thereon, a sling component pivoted by one end thereof to said supporting structure and means operatively connecting said actuator to said sling component adjacent said one end to flip said sling component through a vertical are around said pivoted end when said actuator is moved in the direction towards said one end, said actuator including a pair of spaced and parallel side members, said component lying substantially between said members, and a slotted front bracket and a slotted rear bracket, said brackets engaging said supporting structure and said actuator and mounting said actuator for said reciprocal movement, said front and rear brackets being provided with pairs of vertically situated closed ended slots formed therein, said side members engaging said slots at the upper ends of said slots, the upper walls of said brackets defining the upper ends of said siots engaging notches in the upper side edges of said side members, said supporting structure also engaging said slots below said side members, the lower walls of said brackets defining the lower ends of said slots engaging notches on the underside of said supporting structure, said side members sliding on the upper sides of said supporting structure and an operating handle extending from each side of said rear bracket.

2. The catapult according to claim 1 in which said means operatively connecting said actuator to said component includes a crossbar between said side members, and a crossbar engaging cam on the underside of said component engaged by said crossbar. 

1. A toy catapult comprising in combination a supporting structure, an actuator slideably engaged upon said supporting structure for reciprocal longitudinal movement thereon, a sling component pivoted by one end thereof to said supporting structure and means operatively connecting said actuator to said sling component adjacent said one end to flip said sling component through a vertical arc around said pivoted end when said actuator is moved in the direction towards said one end, said actuator including a pair of spaced and parallel side members, said component lying substantially between said members, and a slotted front bracket and a slotted rear bracket, said brackets engaging said supporting structure and said actuator and mounting said actuator for said reciprocal movement, said front and rear brackets being provided with pairs of vertically situated closed ended slots formed therein, said side members engaging said slots at the upper ends of said slots, the upper walls of said brackets defining the upper ends of said slots engaging notches in the upper side edges of said side members, said supporting structure also engaging said slots below said side members, the lower walls of said brackets defining the lower ends of said slots engaging notches on the underside of said supporting structure, said side members sliding on the upper sides of said supporting structure and an operating handle extending from each side of said rear bracket.
 2. The catapult according to claim 1 in which said means operatively connecting said actuator to said component includes a crossbar between said side members, and a crossbar engaging cam on the underside of said component engaged by said crossbar. 